Trunk appliance



' T. GILBERT.

Patented May 9, 1922.

ME, STATES PATENT OFFICE.

TILMON I. ILBERT, or LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA.

TRUNK APPLIANCE;

T 0 all whom it may concern.

Be it known that I, TILMoN I. GILBERT, a citizen of the United States, residing at Los Angeles in the county of Los Angeles, State of California, have invented new and useful Improvements in Trunk Appliances, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to trunk appliances, and particularly pertains to a follower for holding the clothing compactly in a wardrobe trunk when packed and in transit, said follower being so shaped as to form an iron ing board which may be supported by said trunk when opened, and readily and conveniently adjusted into a position of utility for ironing purposes.

Other objects of my invention will appear in the following description, will be pointed out in the claims, and illustratedin the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of an opened wardrobe trunk showing my invention applied thereto in a position of utility as an ironing board.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged vertical sectional view through the wardrobe section of the trunk, showing in full lines my invention adjusted in position when in use as an ironing board, and in dotted lines in the position it would assume when folded away in the trunk when utilized as a clothing follower.

Fig. 3 is a plan section taken on'the line 3-3 of Fig. 2. Y i

In carrying out my invention 5 represents the drawer section of a wardrobe trunk of usual construction, and 6 thewardrobe section of the same, which are hinged together in the usual manner. The section 6 is provided with the usual hinged end cover 7, and the hanger bars 8 upon which the hangers 9 may be supported.

Secured to the oppositely disposed sides 10 and 11 of the wardrobe section 6 and disposed just below the hanger bars 8 are rack bars 12, the teeth of which are preferably of hooked formation, said hooks projecting backwardly as clearly shown in the drawings. The combined follower and ironing board 13,-comprises a flat member 14, which may be suitably padded, and having a rod 15 passing transversely through its broad end and secured thereto against lateral movement in any desired manner. The ends of rod 15 extend beyond the edges of the member 14 and are adapted to rest in the notches 16 formed between the teeth of bars Specification of Letters Patent. Patgnted lIay 9, 1922, Application filed may 9, 1921. Serial No. 468,073.

12 -and-are provided with suitable buttons 17 which engage with the sides of bars 12 to prevent lateral movement of the member 14. Hinged at 18 to the narrow end of member 14: is a leg member 19 adapted to rest upon the floor and support the free end of said member when adjusted to be'utilized as an ironing board.

By the foregoing recited construction it will be obvious that the member 14; may be conveniently and adjustably supported by the trunk member 6 on one of its ends and by the folding leg 19 on its opposite end when utilized as an ironing board, and when adjusted in the outer notches .16 in this position, the entire ironing surface may be conveniently used. v

hen the trunk is-packed for storage or transportation, the clothing is placed in the usual manner on the hangers 9, the leg 19 is folded upwardly against the member-14, and tied thereto by means of a tape 20, and then the rod 15 is adjusted in the proper notches 16 to hold the clothing compactly pressed against the rear wall 21 of trunk .member 6, as clearly shown in dotted lines in Figs. 2 and 3 of the drawings.

In order that the lower end of the member 14 may be held steadily and rigidly against swinging on the pivot rod 15, I provide a spring strap member 22 which is secured at 23 to the floor wall-24 of the trunk, said spring member being serrated, and the lower end of the member 14 is adapted to engage in said serrations, when adjusted against the clothing.

It will be obvious that the member 14: may I it may be reversed from the position shown in dotted lines, in order that a smooth surface will contact with theclothing, instead of the leg 19.

What I claim is:

1. In a wardrobe trunk having a garment hanging compartment, a pair of oppositely disposed toothed rack bars secured in said compartment adjacent one end thereof, a combined garment follower and ironing board provided at one of its ends with a cross bar, the ends of said bar adapted to pivotally and detachably engage with the teeth of the rack bars, and a supporting leg hingedly secured tothe free end of the combined follower andironing board.

2. In a wardrobe trunk having a garment ironing board, and means mounted in' said hanging compartment, a pair of oppositely trunk compartment for detachably engaging disposed toothed rack bars secured in said the free end of thecombined follower and compartment adjacent one end thereof, a ironing board to hold the same in an adjust- 5 combined garment follower and ironing ed position when used as a garment fol- 15 board provided at one of its ends with a lower. d cross bar, the end of said bar adapted to de- In witness that I claim the foregoing I tachably and pivotally engage the toothed have hereunto subscribed my'name this 13th rack bars, a supporting leg hingedly secured day of April, 1921. 10 tothe free end of the combined follower and TILMON I. GILBERT- 

